We're Celebrating Willie Nelson's Birthday With a Look Back at His Life in Photos
In case you missed it, Willie Nelson (aka, country music icon) celebrated his 90th birthday over the weekend. And given that he's a staple in the lives of many (and we mean many), you can imagine how spectacular his celebration was! So many celebrities and household names joined Willie on stage at his 90th birthday tribute, including Chris Stapleton, Miranda Lambert, and George Strait. And you can bet the concert hall was filled with fans! Well, in commemoration of Willie's milestone birthday, we thought we'd take a look through his wondrous life and career in photos.
Willie is known for many things. For starters, he's responsible for writing some of the best country songs of all time, including Patsy Cline's hit "Crazy." He's also made already famous songs his own, even winning a Grammy for his rendition of "Always on My Mind." And he's collaborated with some of the biggest country stars out there, like Dolly Parton (in both songs and movies!), Bob Dylan, and Toby Keith. Don't even get us started on his filmography. Willie has starred in so many Western movies and family flicks that he was even inducted into the Texas Film Hall of Fame.
It's hard to wrap our heads around just how much Willie has accomplished in his decades-long career. These photos of young and seasoned Willie Nelson do a great job at highlighting just how long he's been at the center of the game!
1961
Whoa! We almost didn't recognize Willie without his trademark long locks, but the guitar is a helpful clue! This was the year that Patsy Cline made Willie's country music standard "Crazy" a hit.
1962
This photo is actually so sweet when you realize it's of Willie holding up his debut album, And Then I Wrote.
1964
Willie is all smiles in this pic. You would be, too, if you had just signed a major record deal!
1965
We can tell he definitely had a thing for suits back in the '60s.
1966
Okay, so Willie had a thing for suits and cheesing in photos. Was it a '60s trend?! 😂
1967
Even with this photo as evidence, it's still somehow hard to picture Willie Nelson in a turtleneck. 🤔
1970
Willie has always been known for his charismatic stage presence.
1971
He was clearly as passionate about performing back then as he is now.
1973
Bring on the cowboy hats! We're starting to see a change in Willie's style with this one. 🤠
1975
Pictured here are two legends and their acoustic guitars. We wish we could go back in time to watch Willie and Johnny Cash perform this iconic duet live!
1978
Little did he know he was setting the standard of style for country men everywhere.
1980
New decade, new hair. The famous braids have finally made an appearance, y'all! 👏
1982
So the braids may have been a quick experiment for him at first! (But we obviously know that they come back at some point. 😉) Either way, have you ever seen someone so lost in their craft?
1990
He's giving Harry Styles vibes.
1993
What would you have worn if you had the chance to appear on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno? For Willie, the choice was obvious. Give him a bandana and his red, white, and blue guitar strap, and he's all set!
1998
Did anyone else know that Willie and actor Woody Harrelson are actually good friends?
2006
The duo we didn't know we needed! We love this photo of Willie attending Bette Midler's Halloween party.
2015
Willie channeled his style from the '60s by slipping into a suit for this performance at the Imagine: John Lennon 75th Birthday Concert.
2022
It's clear time hasn't changed the special way he's able to connect with his fans. Just look at that glow!
2023
You're telling us Willie still looks this good in 2023? Someone make him share his secrets!
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